A fledgling business turning old, discarded building materials into new products is building out its new home on the western edge of Corktown.
"We're going to turn it into our new studio," says Kyle Dubay, co-founder of
Woodward Throwbacks.
Dubay and his partner, Bo Shepherd, launched Woodward Throwbacks a little more than year ago, making consumer products from wood they found at illegal dumping sites around the city. The products ranged from bottle-opener signs to six-pack containers that resemble lunch boxes from the early 20th century.
"One thing led to another and soon we were selling them in Eastern Market," Dubay says. "I can't believe we have grown this much this quickly."
The growth prompted them to purchase a building on Michigan Avenue just west of I-75. The new space will expand the company’s production capabilities. The structure has been vacant for years, leaving it in need of significant renovations. Woodward Throwbacks is currently trying to raise $10,000 in a
crowd funding campaign to pay for some of the upgrades.
"The building was ravaged by thieves before we got it," Dubay says.
Dubay and Shepherd hope to begin wholesaling their products once they move into the new space. They aspire to turn Woodward Throwbacks into a national brand with its products available at retail outlets across the U.S.
Source: Kyle Dubay, founder of Woodward Throwbacks
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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